372 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



may have the full benefit of the sun for its maturity. 

 It should be permitted to hang on the Vine until 

 perfectly ripened, and the seed appear of a dark 

 brown colour, when it should be separated from the 

 pulp or berry, dried in an airy place, and carefully 

 preserved until the return of the growing season. 

 From the middle of February, to the beginning of 

 March, we may consider the most congenial season 

 for sowing such seeds. About the latter end of 

 February, a few large pans, from five to six inches 

 in depth, should be filled with sandy loam and leaf- 

 mould, and the seeds deposited in them, from three 

 to four inches apart, and then placed in a hot-bed, 

 of a moderate temperature, which will greatly facili- 

 tate the vegetation of the seed. As soon as the 

 plants appear to have advanced four or five inches 

 in growth, they will require to be placed singly into 

 pots about five or six inches in diameter, and again 

 plunged into the hot-bed, and carefully supplied 

 with water and a free admission of air. Much care 

 should be taken not to injure their tender roots, in 

 removing them from the seed pans, but to preserve 

 as much of the soil around the small fibres as possi- 

 ble. When the plants have filled their pots with 

 fresh roots, they should be again shifted into others 

 of a larger size, and treated in every other respect 

 as was specified for cuttings, only observing not 

 to plant out any of the sorts in the houses, until 

 their fruit has been ascertained and approved of. 



